Victor e



V. E. RUMBARGER;

(No Model.)

BICYCLE HANDLE BAR.

Patented July 14, 189,6.

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UNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VICTOR E. RUMBARGER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HIRAM G. PROTSMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE HANDLE-BAR,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 564,108, dated July 14, 1896.

Application iiled March 9, 1896. Serial No. 582,379, (No modem. i

.To LtZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Vieron E. RUMBAEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle Handle-Bars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it vappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. f

My invention relates to bicycle handle-bars, and is a further improvement of the mechanism shown and described in United States Letters Patent granted to myself January 14, 1896, No. 553,178.

The object of the invention is to reduce the number of parts shown therein and otherwise increase the utility of the original mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through the stem and head. Fig. 2 is a section on the lineair of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a rear and side elevation of the plunger.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A designates the upright tubular stem. B is a forging comprising the head, which is curved rearwardly, as .at B, and brazed to said stem.

O and O designate washers which inclose a rubber or elastic cushion or washer O in the upper end of the stem. These parts rest vupon the upper end of a helical spring D,

which is inclosed in the stem and surrounds a screw-threaded rod D. The lower end of this rod is inclosed by an externally-threaded nut D" that engages with screw-threads on the interior of the stem, and by means of which various adjustments of the spring may be had.

It will be noted that the rod D/ and the helical spring D are subjected to two independent adjustments. The rod, to limit the movement of the handle-bars by the washers coming in contact therewith, and the said spring may be adjusted by the nut DIl to regulate the tension thereof.

CZ is a jam-nut engaging with lower end of said rod and maintaining said rod in a proper position. The rod D" in the present instance preferably terminates below the washers.

E designates a plunger that is supported on said washers. This plunger has recesses e and e', in the former of which a ratchet-pawl t' having a rearward projection c" is pivoted. This pawl normally engages with a ratchetwheel F inclosed in the head B. 'As shown in Fig. 2, the said ratchetewheel has lateral7 tubular extensions l) Z9, to which the handlebars G G are brazed.

c is a locking-bar inclosed in the opening e/ and resting upon a coil-spring o. This bar has an inwardly-curved recess c and its upper end terminates in a screw-threaded stem c. The normal position of this bar is shown in Fig. l, where it will be noted it locks the ratchet-pawl in engagement with the wheel. Any jolting or sudden motion that may be given the handle-bar will consequently be transferred to the spring and elastic cushions, substantially as described in my former patent.

cl/ is a cap loosely fitting in the upper end of the head in an opening e and having a screw-threaded engagement with the upper end of the locking-'bar c. By pressing upon this cap the recessed portion of said bar may be brought in line with the ratchet-pawl and the latter permitted to drop away from the ratchet-wheel. The position of the handlebars may then be adjusted if desired and the ratchet-pawl returned by allowing the locking-bar to return to its normal position. As this cap cl/ is shown in Fig. l there is some space between its lowerend and the metal surrounding the screw-threaded stem of the locking-bar- Vhen in this position the said locking-bar may be moved down by pressing upon the cap, but in order to prevent any accidental pressure upon said cap `it may be screwed down upon the stem until its lower end comes in contact with the lower terminal of the opening e in which it is placed.

Having fully described my invention, I claiml. In a bicycle, the combination with the head and stem, and a ratchet-wheel inclosed in said head, of a slotted plunger in the rear IOO of said Wheel, a ratchet-pawl pivotcd in said plunger, a Verticallyqnovable locking-bar inclosed in said plunger in the rear of said ratchet-pawl, a cap inclosing the upper end of said locking-bar and projecting above the head, and an elastic support for said plunger, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the head and handle-bar steni, a ratchet-Wheel inclosed in said head, and adjustable elastic cushions nclosed in said stein, of a slotted plunger mounted, supported on said elastic cushions adjacent to the said ratchet-Wheel, 

